It's Not Test Cricket, But

Tomorrow morning at 12:15 a.m. Brisbane time, Channel 10 will broadcast in HD the inaugural match of the Indian Premier League between the Bangalore Royal Challengers vs. the Kolkata Knight Riders. Can you feel the excitement? Meredith doesn't know yet that I'm gonna slip her some caffeine when she gets home from work so she can stay up with me!

The IPL, a tournament of 20Twenty matches lasting six weeks, is pretty controversial. (The Web site for the IPL was limping along about a half hour ago, but it looks like there will be a deal for $50 million for a Canadian company to develop it.) Sponsored by the Board of Control for Cricket in India, 20Twenty cricket means 20 overs per side. The matches last usually about three hours, with each player swinging away to get as many runs as possible before the 20 overs (six bowls each) are bowled. Most people aren't into this "bastardization" of the very old game, and I understand that. It's another form of a game that has a long and storied history. And for some reason I love it in every form.

Australia's Andrew Symonds, who was bought on the auction block -- er, I mean at the auction -- for $1.35 million, will be playing against his teammates, just like players from India, England, West Indies,  and Pakistan will be doing.

Tonight I get to watch Ricky Ponting and Mike Hussey's brother play against Nathan Bracken, the long-haired blondy-locks from Springwood, NSW. Playing alongside is Ishant Sharma, another long-haired guy who, last I checked was 19 and really annoying to watch. And, if the tournament isn't odd enough already, it appears that the Washington Redskins cheerleaders will be dancing on the sidelines tonight. Hmmm.

I'm gonna go play stick cricket.